Posts by Bof

Hi Agnès,

I only half agree. 😉 After over four months of driving a small city car in South Africa and Namibia, I can confirm my trip wouldn’t have been ANY different with a 4x4 in those two countries. I only had to (slightly) limit myself in Lesotho. Botswana, though, is another story. But keep in mind that bush camps, while amazing for the atmosphere, can also be a bit stressful with young kids...

Also, don’t forget you’ve got 20+ trips to Southern Africa under your belt. A family new to the region will have a blast no matter what vehicle they’re in. 😎 Anyway, for a big three-month loop, I’d recommend heading back down to South Africa via Zimbabwe (after Kasane and Victoria Falls) rather than Botswana. There are some great stops that are totally doable in a 2WD. 🙂

Hi Aurélie,

Ten years ago, I took a three-month trip to Southern Africa (a big loop through South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana) in a small passenger car. At the time, I had no experience driving on dirt roads. 😇

My travel journal might inspire you or give you some route ideas: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7541607;#7541607

For me, a 4x4 is far from essential for an amazing experience. 😏

In South Africa and Namibia, it makes almost no difference: the main roads/tracks are in good condition, and almost all sites are accessible with a regular vehicle. In Botswana, it’s more limiting without a 4x4, but you can still organize a few day trips with local operators.

In short, if you want to keep flexibility and limit costs, a 2x4 van is already a great option. While a 4x4 adds real value for some remote areas (especially in Botswana), it’s not a must for a successful trip. 😉 Happy planning!

Thanks for reminding me about the August eclipse—I’d completely forgotten about it! You’ll be able to either choose to attend the event or stay outside the busiest areas.

Hey Marc,

It looks like the eclipse will definitely impact tourist crowds and, more importantly, prices—especially for flights and accommodations. I don’t know how far along you are with your plans, but double-check these details before moving forward for 2026.

Personally, I’ve decided to postpone my sixth trip to Iceland until 2027. 😇

Hey Anne-Claire,

I’ll be honest with you: I’d never do a day trip to Kerlingarfjöll from Reykjavík.

I’ve never taken an organized tour in Iceland, but in this case, you’re probably looking at 8–10 hours of travel time for just 2–3 hours on site. Is it really worth it?

Especially since the landscapes at Kerlingarfjöll are pretty similar to those at Landmannalaugar, which you’ll have already seen. If I had to choose, I’d go for the Snæfellsnes Peninsula instead—it offers a completely different vibe. That said, it’ll still be a long day on the road.

Another thing to keep in mind: if you do three day tours along the south coast (Jökulsárlón, Landmannalaugar, and Þórsmörk), all returning to Reykjavík, you’ll end up spending most of your time in transit, even though these places are relatively close to each other on the map.

Personally, I would’ve rented a regular car to explore the south coast at my own pace up to Jökulsárlón (it’s 100% paved, no issues), then used 4x4 buses for the last stretches into the Highlands—like Lakagígar and Landmannalaugar, with a full day at each spot. This way, you’d avoid unnecessary backtracking and have way more time for exploring and hiking… all while skipping the intimidating off-road driving and river crossings.

Bottom line: your plan isn’t impossible… but brace yourself! 😛

I love iSimangaliso, but I also think it's better to finish with Kruger.

In any case, it sounds like a great trip ahead! 🙂

P.S. You confirmed that conditions weren’t really ideal at Etosha for good wildlife sightings. We’ll have to go back. 😉 For me, it’ll be this summer (for the third time), and I’m especially excited.

Victoria, Caprivi, and Etosha had really nice vibes, but nothing compares to what Kruger or even Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve seem to offer.

Having spent a lot of time in both Etosha and Kruger, I personally find that these two parks have very similar potential for awe.

Just out of curiosity, which month did you visit Namibia? If it was in April, it might’ve been a bit early in the season for wildlife...

Hey Bof! 🙂

I’d also thought about a stop in the Drakensberg, but it adds quite a few kilometers just for one night.

I think you’d need to drop a night somewhere else and spend 2 nights in the Drakensberg.

But this trip seems really focused on animals, not landscapes. So?

Well, it adds 180 km, but what’s 180 kilometers in southern Africa for a nice stop? 😉

That said, I’d also stay an extra night in that area, even if it means one less night in Kruger (or Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, a reserve that didn’t excite me as much as others).

Like you said, it all comes down to where you want to strike the balance between landscapes and animals.

Hey Claude,

Like dear Attila, I also think the first day of driving is a bit ambitious. 🤪

Instead of staying overnight in Newcastle, which isn’t very interesting, I’d suggest driving toward Clarens and Golden Gate Highlands National Park. It’s about a 4-hour drive (330 km) from Joburg airport.

That way, you can enjoy the stunning scenery starting around 2:30 PM: two nice loops to drive and some easy short hikes. A great way to ease into the trip, with beautiful landscapes and (likely) some wildlife to spot. 🙂

The next day, you can continue to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, where two nights should be enough—especially since you’ll spend a lot of time in Kruger afterward.

P.S. The second day of driving seems fine to me: an early start is doable, and there’s no jet lag from a long flight the day before.

You're leaving from May 29 to June 19: why not do these excursions at the end of your trip, to give yourself a chance to enjoy open roads? But it’s still a risk, though.

Unfortunately, I don’t see any other options.

You could always skip the 4x4 and do a less expensive route with a regular vehicle. There’s already plenty to do on the ring road.

Hello, we’re a group of 4 adults doing a road trip around Iceland from May 29 to June 19. Since the Landcruiser is too expensive, we’d like to suggest another 4x4 to the agency. We can choose our own excursions and plan to hike at Landmannalaugar (June 1) and also at Hveradalir (May 31). Do you know if they’ll be open on those dates? We’re really hoping they will!... As for the 4x4, what would you recommend: Toyota Rav4, Dacia Bigster, or Kia Sorento? Do you think the artificial ice cave will be open around June 17? Thanks for your advice. Christianede

Hi Christiane,

So early in the season, it’s unfortunately very unlikely that the F208 (Landmannalaugar) and the F35 (Kerlingarfjöll) will be open, based on stats from recent years:

Only the south in 15 days? Not even a full island tour? Personally, I’d recommend the latter option, including a detour to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west. Especially since by late September, Lakagígar will be closed and Landmannalaugar might be too.

I’d also like to avoid changing places every day, so is it a good idea to stay put for 2/3 days and explore the region?

Not a great idea in my opinion, except around Lake Mývatn, where there’s enough to do for three days. Most people who spend two weeks in Iceland do the full ring road. But if you want to include the Westfjords (which aren’t part of the classic loop) in your trip, you might run out of time. Will you have a 4x4?

Personally, I wouldn't trade a barrel of Cape Cross for two barrels combined from Twyfelfontein and Swakopmund. 😉

On the other hand, I love Spitzkoppe (especially at the end of the day), and I’d also stop by Walvis Bay—unless you’ve already seen plenty of flamingos.

So for me, it’d be Walvis Bay, Cape Cross, then Spitzkoppe (or swap the last two) without hesitation, even if it adds a few kilometers. With 22 days there, why skip anything? 😇

Hi Anne-Claire,

Yes, it’s longer but prettier—I confirm what Jean-Luc said. 🙂

Just a heads-up about the hike at Fish River Canyon: unless I’m mistaken, only participants in the Fish River Hiking Trail (85 km over 4-5 days, with a special permit) are allowed to descend into the canyon at Hobas (exit at Ai-Ais).

You can walk along the top of the canyon for a few kilometers (max), but no more. A full day will be plenty. FYI, the canyon isn’t at its best early in the morning (too much shade). The best time is from 10-11 AM until late afternoon for those reddish hues.

Double-check all this to be sure, but that’s the info I’ve got!

Hi Florence,

Multi-day hiking isn’t as developed as in Europe, but there are some amazing options in South Africa. And you’ll usually run into very few people on the trails. Just watch out—sometimes you need to book in advance.

In Golden Gate Highlands NP, I did the Rhebok Trail back in 2016 (31 km), with one night in a small unmanned hut along the way (a small fee to pay). You could easily do the hike in a long day, but walking in the late afternoon and then early morning increases your chances of spotting wildlife. Really great—I’d recommend it! There are other shorter or longer hikes in the park, some following part of the RT route.

For multi-day treks, Michel mentioned the famous Otter Trail, and there’s also the Tsitsikamma, Swartberg, Klipspringer, Hoerikwaggo, and Prospectors Trails. You’ll find info with a bit of research.

One option that few foreigners know about—and it’s A-MA-ZING—is multi-day hikes in the big parks with rangers (max 8 people + 2 rangers). Several comfort levels available. I’ve done it twice (Kruger and Hluhluwe) over four days in bivouac mode... unforgettable!

I’ve also done some fantastic day or half-day hikes in lots of places (Drakensberg, Cederberg, Lesotho, Table Mountain, Blyde River). 🙂

The plan works well, but I’d still do it differently. 😏

Actually, Day 2 is almost a wasted day. Three hours of driving and not much else (aside from picking up the car and doing some shopping, which should take max two hours total). I know you’ll have a night flight behind you, but there’s no time difference and you should be fine. Plus, I’d tend to want to finish with Kruger, which for many is the highlight of a first trip to South Africa. Why not do the loop in the opposite direction?

My advice: pick up the car, do some shopping, and drive towards Golden Gate Highlands NP, to the south. That’s about 3h30 of driving, and the park (which can be visited in a few hours) is a great introduction in terms of landscapes and already some wildlife to see (antelopes, zebras, baboons, birds...). Then, continue to Lesotho and/or Drakensberg, going counterclockwise. I’d only stay one night in Hluhluwe/Imfolozi, but that’s personal.

For the rest, I agree with the others’ advice. Jo’burg has a few highlights, like the Apartheid Museum, but I’d skip it too for a first trip.

Thanks Régis for the details. Not cheap, indeed! 🤪 When the time comes... so once the situation has stabilized, I’ll probably go for the hiking option. 😉

Sorry to hear about your misadventures, Guillaume... I didn’t realize the destination had become less accessible, financially speaking. 🤪

As for me, I was planning to go back (as a couple) in the summer of 2025, but plans changed (due to a new job), so it’ll have to wait for another time!

Welcome to Bruno, too, our dear Haut-Savoyard! 😉

Funny shape of the pool. Pure coincidence or the work of a nostalgic expat?

No idea! Not being French, I hadn’t even noticed. 😉

Rest assured, there’s no feeding involved—we’re in a conservation area for Ethiopian wolves managed by EWCP. We had great guides who know where they are, even though the area is huge. Plus, at this time of year, it’s all green, so you can spot them from far away thanks to their color.

Better late than never—thanks for your reply and that lovely travel journal. 🙂 Ethiopia’s been on my wishlist for ages (even more so now 😉), but it’s not exactly a hotspot. Especially right now, which is totally understandable.

Quick question about the budget for a trip like this—specifically the part focused on the Ethiopian wolf?